Today, Melbourne has set a new record – it’s after 2pm and the temperature is a brutal 7 degrees. And raining. Horrible. Outdoor furniture is the last thing on anyone’s mind. But, just like we’re expecting the sun to come up tomorrow, we’re expecting Spring in a few weeks. So you want your outdoor furniture to be nice and clean, ready to go, right?
There’s a few simple things you can do to make sure your furniture is going to be worth sitting on.
Mould & Mildew
The big enemy of all outdoor fabrics is mould or mildew. These are organisms that grow on any surfaces and produce an evil smelling, ugly, slippery slime. They need three things to thrive – moisture, food and an absence of light. The moisture – outdoor furniture in Melbourne during winter will have that, for sure! Second – food – this can be the dust spores that settle on your furniture. Finally – an absence of light – mould hates the sun. If you find your furniture has been affected by mould or mildew, firstly wash it with a chlorine-based product (not the fabrics) – test an area first. Then, expose the product to light, and let dry. If possible, try and move the furniture to an area where it will be exposed to daylight. The sun kills mould spores.
With the fabrics, there are commercial products available that can treat this. If possible, remove cushion covers and dry clean, or carefully wash them. If your covers are too far gone, Outdoor Living Direct can replace them.
Timber
All timber will fade, and ultimately split when exposed to weather constantly. The simplest way to deal with this issue is to invest in a waterproof cover – Outdoor Living Direct can supply custom made covers for any product, using UV stable, fully waterproof fabrics.
In addition, the regular application of a commercial timber oil will significantly improve timber life.